Electrotype and stereotype casting pan



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 G. B. GOTTRELL.

ELEOTROTYPE AND STBREOTYPE CASTING PAN. No. 296,277. Patented Apr. 1, 1884.

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- G.B. OOTTRELL.

ELBOITROTYPE AND STBRBOTYPE GASTING PAN. No. 296,277. Patented Apr. 1, 1884.

WITNESSES. I,

W thh alf vw I 0 I UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

onnvnnr B. COTTRELL, or sronrncron, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTROTYPE AND STEREOTYPE CASTING PAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,277, dated April 1, 1884.

Application filed December 16, 1882. (No model.)

that they would conform to the contour of theprinting-surfaces of the type-cylinders of the presses upon which they were to be used, as in bending a shell or matrix containing broadfaced type, solid cuts or illustrations, it will not readily adapt itself to the perfect arc of a cirole, because a. greater resistance to bending is offered at the points where such broad-faced type and cuts occur than at the sharp angles at the edges of such type or cuts, and hence fiat or straight portions will exist in the shell or matrix after bending. To overcome these defects and obtain a plate from which an impression could be taken, it has been necessary to pound or hammer up these flat places until they conformed to the curve of the rest of the plate; but this method of perfecting the plate is a very objectionable one, in that it must be done with great care, and even then the plates are very often rendered unfit for use.

The object of my invention is to overcome the difficulty pointed out and to obtain a plate which, so far as its printing-surface is concerned, will require no further manipulation after being removed from the pan. This object I accomplish by the method and apparatus hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top or plan view of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same, taken on line a: w of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail View of a portion of the perforated cover.

In the several views like letters of reference indicate like parts.

A is the backing or casting pan, having a concave surface, a, upon which the shell or matrix a is placed and bent to the desired curvature.

B is the cover or lid, hinged to the pan A at b I), and having a convex surface, s, and numerous radial perforations or apertures, z 13, through which pins or plugs k k may be inserted at pleasure and caused to bear against the shell or matrix at the points where it is desired to perfect the curve.

The shell or matrix is held securely in place by clamping-strips, as seen at o o, and as these strips are of the same thickness which it is desired to give the plate, they also serve to support the cover B at a proper distance from the pan A.

In order to hold the lid B firmly in place when the molten metal is introduced, I provide a pressurescrew, G, which is mounted in the cross-bar D, and impinges against the upright standard E of the lid B. This cross-bar 'D is supported by two uprights, n n, and is bolted to their tops. As it is necessary at times to throw the lid 13 up and away from the pan A, I out a slot in the rear side of one end of the cross-bar, thus enabling theoperator, after loosening the nuts by which the crossbar is secured, to throw it around, so that it will not interfere with the raising of the lid, the bolt 6 serving as a pivot for the bar to swing upon.

When it is desired to back up an electrotypeshell by the use of my improved method and apparatus, the shell is first placed in the pan A and bent as near as is possible to the form of the pan. It is then carefully examined to ascertain whether there are any flat surfaces which would interfere with a perfect impression, and if such places are found plugs are inserted through apertures in the lid B corresponding therewith, so that their points shall bear against such fiat surfaces and force the same out until they conform to the surface of the pan A. Plugs having been inserted in all places where flat surfaces are discovered, the remaining holes in the lid B are filled with clay or other suitable material. The lid B is then turned down, the crossbar D'returned to its resting-place on the upright 07., the nuts 9 9 turned home, and the pressure r screw 0 brought to bear against the standard E. The parts thus being in position to receive the molten metal which is to constitute the backing of the shell, the same is poured into the mouth-piece F, and thence finds its way to the mold. "When the plate is removed from the pan, the holes formed by the plugs are filled with solder and the back turned out, so as to fit the cylinder.

It will be understood that my invention is applicable to the casting of stereotypeplates as well as electrotype-plates, the only difference being that in casting stereotype-plates the pins are inserted through the perforated lid B, so that their points bear against spaces between the letters formed in the matrix, instead of bearing upon the reverse face ,of the letters themselves, as in the case of the electrotype-shell. A slight experience on the part of the operator will enable him to determine, after the type has been set, where the flat places in the shell or matrix are likely to ocour, and I have found it convenient to take a pattern of the form and place it upon the upper side of the lid or cover 13, in register with the shell, so that the operator can place the pins in proper position without an examination of the shell'or matrix itself.

WVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The improvement in the method of back ing curved eleotrotypeplates which consists in perfecting the form of the shell and holding the same in position by pins inserted through perforations in the lid during the introduction of the molten metal, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the pan A, of the perforated lid B and the pins 70 k, substan-- tially as described.

CALVERT B. ooT TRELL.

XVitnesses:

GEo. W. PERKINS, H. D. DONNELLY. 

